Former Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has officially defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), moving alongside the entire political structure of the South-East region.
The defection was formally announced on Wednesday in Enugu State, where Obi and several prominent political leaders from the South-East declared their alignment with the ADC.
Speaking at the event, the leaders said their decision was driven by the need to rescue Nigeria from what they described as poor governance under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Obi stressed that the time had come for opposition forces to unite ahead of the 2027 general elections, urging political stakeholders to rally under the ADC, led by its National Chairman, David Mark.
According to him, the coming year marks the beginning of a national rebirth.
“We are ending this year with hope, and in 2026, we begin a rescue journey. We will resist election rigging by every lawful means in 2027,” Obi said.
Describing Nigeria as a nation in distress, Obi argued that leaders with genuine concern for the country can no longer remain silent while conditions worsen.
He criticised what he called a lack of accountability in leadership, stating that governance must be rooted in integrity and example.
“If you ask the people to fast, you must not feast,” he said, condemning government officials who live lavishly while citizens are urged to make sacrifices.
Obi maintained that Nigeria is not poor but was “looted into poverty,” lamenting the country’s declining global image.
“We have become a crime scene and a disgraced nation,” he added.
The event was attended by notable political figures, including ADC National Chairman David Mark, former Imo State governor Achike Udenwa, former Enugu State governor Okwesilieze Nwodo, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, and Senators Ben Obi, Enyinnaya Abaribe, Tony Nwoye, and Victor Umeh, among other South-East leaders.
